CVE-2016-3808 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The serial peripheral interface driver in Android before 2016-07-05 on Pixel C devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 28430009.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3808 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the serial peripheral interface driver component of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affected Pixel C devices and existed in Android versions prior to the 2016-07-05 security patch release. The flaw resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for managing serial peripheral interface communications, which serves as a fundamental interface for connecting various hardware peripherals to the device. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the driver's implementation, creating a pathway for malicious applications to exploit kernel-level access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a crafted application that manipulates the serial peripheral interface driver through improper parameter handling or buffer overflow conditions. Attackers can construct malicious payloads that trigger the driver to execute code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing the standard application sandboxing mechanisms that normally protect the Android operating system from unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which describes weaknesses in memory management and improper handling of memory access patterns. The flaw demonstrates a classic privilege escalation vector where user-mode applications can manipulate kernel-mode components to gain root-level access to the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3808 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected Pixel C devices. Once exploited, adversaries can access all device data, modify system files, install malicious applications, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Android by undermining the isolation between user applications and system-level resources. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1059, which involves "Command and Scripting Interpreter," as the compromised system can be used to execute arbitrary commands and scripts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the security patch released by Google on July 5, 2016, which addressed the specific driver implementation flaws. Organizations should ensure all Pixel C devices receive the updated firmware and that proper security monitoring is implemented to detect suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device administrators should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from running, while maintaining regular security audits of system configurations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security testing and proper input validation in mobile operating systems, particularly for hardware interface drivers that maintain elevated privilege access. Security teams should consider implementing behavioral monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous driver access patterns or privilege escalation attempts, as these indicators often precede successful exploitation of such vulnerabilities.